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Important Updates from the League
⭐ CALL FOR TESTIMONY - EMS Bill Package Introduced, Hearings this Week: The League has been part of ongoing discussions with Legislators regarding the EMS crisis in Wisconsin with costs exceeding available revenues and a lack of ability to find qualified staffing. Three recently introduced bills may help to resolve some of the major issues being faced by municipal officials and EMS leaders across the state. Generally, the bills look to improve access to EMS training programs and reduce the cost of those programs to participants, increase reimbursement rates for certain emergency calls by Medicaid recipients, provide more oversight on expansions in the scope of practice for EMTs, and create a levy limit exemption for regional (county-sized) EMS service territories. A full summary of each of the three bills and their provisions is available here.
The Senate Committee on Health was referred the Senate version of these three bills and has scheduled a public hearing this Wednesday, April 23 at 1:00pm. Additionally, we've received word that the Assembly Committee on State Affairs, which was referred the Assembly version of these three bills, is also planning a public hearing on the same date and time. The League will be testifying in support of all three bills at the hearings, and will be asking for small modifications to make the proposals even more impactful to Wisconsin's cities and villages.
While the League consistently advocates in the State Capitol for the best interest of Wisconsin's cities and villages, on major efforts, the League will often request that legislators hear the message not only from us, but directly from our members. The specific anecdotes and your first-hand experience with policy matters important to local governments and the state cannot be replaced, and your advocacy may be the difference for legislators who are contemplating the merits of these proposals. We ask that you consider testifying THIS WEDNESDAY at the Capitol for the hearings on these bills. Please reach out to the League's Government Affairs Team at the email addresses listed at the end of this Bulletin if you plan to testify. We can provide our testimony in advance to help prepare your remarks and answer questions regarding hearing-day logistics.
⭐ Hayward and Wausau JFC Public Hearings: Earlier this month, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC), the Legislature's powerful budget writing committee, held two public hearings to hear from residents and stakeholders on budgetary issues of importance. Next week, JFC will hold two more hearings on the dates and times and at the locations listed below.
Monday, April 28, 2025 (10:00am to 5:00pm)
- Hayward High School Auditorium
- 10320 Greenwood Lane, Hayward
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (10:00am to 5:00pm)
- Northcentral Technical College's Center for Health Sciences
- 1000 W. Campus Drive, Wausau
Municipal officials not joining us for the League's Spring Conference are encouraged to attend and speak at these hearings. JFC budget hearings offer an opportunity for municipal engagement with legislators reinforcing our shared state and local governance structure. Attending these hearings helps to ensure the issues important to you, Wisconsin's municipal leaders, are at the forefront of legislators' agendas. After all, their constituents are also your constituents!
The League has prepared four documents highlighting our budget requests. While these documents may help to guide your comments, local anecdotes best illustrate these requests to JFC members. Our budget documents are available on the League's website.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early (by 8am, if possible) and fill out a slip at the front door. People will be called to speak in the order their slips are submitted. Attendees are limited to two minutes when they're called to speak. Be certain your main points and requests are conveyed in those two minutes.
Municipal officials attending our Spring Conference or otherwise unable to testify in person may consider submitting written comments which will be circulated to the 16 committee members. Written comments may be submitted online or sent to this email address: budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov. Contact the League’s Government Affairs team at the email addresses listed at the end of the Bulletin with any questions.
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